Player piano



May 24, 1927.

1,630,177 c. GuLBRANsEN A PLAYER PIANO Filed July 30, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet l )Dfezvow @m/cub Gulbvmn May 24 1927 c. GULBRA|--1SEN PLAYER PIANO Filed July 50,v 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 @www b/ml'f'an Gwbmxn JB i, www 1 im www May 24 1927' c. GULBRANSEN PLAYER PIANO Filed Julv 30. 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Clyfag May Z4, i927u 1,630,177

. C. GULERANSEN PLAYER PIANO @lied July 30, 1920 4 sheetsheei 4 Patented Mey 24, 1.92?.

UNITED s'rATEs v CHRISTIAN-GULBRANSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO G-ULBRANSEN COM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PLAYER PIANO.

Application filed July 30,

My invention rela-tes to pneun'iatically operated player pianos and is particularly concerned with improved means for transmitting the motion of the striking pneumatics to the respective hammers of the piano action.

My invention seeks maximum ease of playing and, consistently, the reduction to minimum or elimination of friction, in a simple compact assembly providing tor properly advantageous mechanical leverage.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l illustrates in side elevation a piano action with my improved player action applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view on a larger scale, of my improved player action and the immediately Vassociated parts ot the piano action, parts being broken away and shown in section in order to reveal the interior construction;

Figure 8 is a rear elevational view of my improved player action;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view on alarger scale; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view.

The so-called pneumatic stack is preferably constructed almost entirely of wood.

The channel board, which extends substantially the entire length of the piano, is illustrated at 22. This board, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, is disposed in a slightly l oblique position, and is supported on brackets 22, 22L1 secured to the piano bed 22". Secured to the rear tace ot' the channel boa-rd 22 are the three valve shelves 8T, 87, to the underside ol each of which a series oi striking pneumatics 96, 96 are secured, these striking pneumatics being relatively staggered, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, each comprising a stationary board 57, a movable board 55 hinged thereto at 58, and an intervening bellows cloth 5G.

For each striking pneumatic, the shelf to which it is secured has communicating channels 99, 99 which are adapted to connect the interior oli the striking pneumatic with the vacuum channel 104 from which air is eX-. hausted by the operation of suitable exhaust bellows as is well known in the art.

The continuity of each pair of communieating channels 99, 99 is, however, controlled by a primary pneumatic valve 102 which operates alternately to connect the interior 1920. Serial NO. 400,080.

of the corresponding striking pneumatic with the atmosphere and with the vacuum in the chamber 104. Each valve 102 is carried upon a valve post 98 which, in turn, is connected operatively with a diaphragm 97, the top ot which is exposed to the vacuum in the chamber 104. The chamber below each diaphragm 97 is connected by means otV a tracker channel 105 with the corresponding opening in the tracker bar of the player piano, as is well known in the art. A bleeder 106 is provided between each tracker channel 105 and the vacuum chamber 104, so that when the corresponding opening in the tracker bar is closed, air will be exhausted from the chamber below the diaphragm 9T, thus balancing the pressures on opposite sides oi' the diaphragm and seating the valve 102 on the seat 102. Under this condition the vacuum is cut oli' and air is admitted to the striker pneumatic by way of the port 101, thus placing it in its normal distended position. W hen the corresponding opening in the tracker bar is opened to atmosphere, by reason of an opening in the note sheet coming in register therewith, air is admitted to the tracker channel 105 and, eclipsing the suction eil'ect through the restricted bleeder 106, raises the Idiaphragm 97 against the lesser' pressure on the other side. This action lifts the valve 102 away from its seat 102, shuts oi'll the atmosphere at 101 and connects the vacuum chamber 104 with the interior of the striking pneumatic. Thus is the striker pneumatic collapsed.

rhe piano action itseli' may be ol: any approved form well known in the art and needs no detailed 4description here. Hul'lico it to say that when the keyboard end of any piano key 91 is depressed, the innerl end, shown in Figures 1 and 2, rises, raising the corresponding abstract rod 93. through the intervention of the capstan screw 92, and swinging the wippen 93, which is connected thereto at 931 about its pivot 98C. his action is transmitted to the striker mechanism above as well known in the art. The wippen pivot 93C is carried from a supporting bar 93, and the lower end of the connected zibstract rod is guided by a swinging link 923" pivoted thereto at 98f and to the stationaryv support 93g which, in turn, is secure-d to the supporting bar 93h. Thus the abs-tract rod has up and down motion substantially parallel to itsel'l.

F or each striker pneumatic an actuating lever 50 is provided at the top ot the pneumatic stack. Each lever V50 ,is located over and in central alignment with its respective striking pneumatic, as clearly shown 'inFigure 4. The levers 50, 50, all in horizontal alignment, are supported respectively, by hinges 5l, 51 of flexible .material .clamped between the wooden strips 52 and 53 mounted on top ofthe uppermost valfvefsllelf 8'1" ynear .the rear edge thereoi. The levers ,50, 25012K- ,tend rearwardly from ,thein hinges so Ythat therearmost ends ,thereof will liezabove v.the central rearward extensions y5l, 5ft 011 the movable boards 55. 55-ot` the striker pneuinatics and -normally Arest upon the cushion strip ihlo'f felt or some Iequivalentmaterial, mounted upon `the fbacl stop rail '(52, which in turn, ismountcd @on top ot the stationary boards of the uppermost row @of striker pneumatics.

Between each movable pneumatic striker board, particularly the extension 54 thereof, and yits corresponding .actuating lever 50, a spindle 59, conveniently ot' wood, is provided. At each encl-of'this spindle, a pelletf() of flexible material, such as leather, is secured, preferably bygluing. These pellets, in turn, are respectively secured, preferably by `gluing, to the under side of the actuating lever and to the top side of the extension 54 on the movable board55 of the striking pneumatic, as clearly illustratedin the draw.- 'ings The spindlesv59, 59 are,-o'f.course,;of

g three different lengths, depending upon which row of striker-pneumatics `theyrreach to, as illustrated in Figure .4. -When -the striker pneumaticsare in their normal .position distended to the desiredeXt-ent, the ac.- tuatingr levers 50,5() rest upon the/:cushion strip 6l. lVhena striker pneumatic is collapsed, its movable board 55, of course, swings upwardly into-position approximately parallcl'with its stationary board57 and this action, then, is transmitted through the spindle 59 to its lever 50, the compressible character of the ypelletsl G0, (50 making this motion possible notwithstanding the fact that they are secured'to the 4parts 54 and 59. Obviously, thereis no friction in transmitting' theinotion of the movable board of the striker pneumatics to the actuating lever 50. The arrangement is extremely simple, not prone to get o ut ot' order, invohingfnolost motion, or loose and rattling parts and making no noise.

The actuating levers 50, 5() are disposed, respectively, in vertical and transverse alignment with the wippeus 93, 93, in the torward end ot each .of which a Contact button 95 is carried by way of the adjusting screw 94 in position to be engagedk by the corresponding lever 50. 'The arrangement is such 'that when the'wippen is "in its lowermost position and when the actuating lever 50 is also in its lowermost position the contact button is so Aadjusted as just to contact with the end of the lever, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. vThe free end Aot' each actuating le'ver 50 `is rounded,v this curve being carefully determined, and being substantially as illustrated,.so that in `,the rising motion of the :actuating lever 50, the ,Contact between the end of the lever and the button 95 will be a 'rollingonm thu-s eliminatingr friction also at this point. Due to thcposition ofthe pneumatic stack relative vto the wippcn'and abstract red, it is clear how, from normal posi- .tion,as shown in tnllflines in yFigure 2,10

the actuated position, shown in dotted lines, this rolling contact `will prevail., with an etlicient'transmission of the-motion of ythe board to the wippen'93a. i.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that, whilel have illustrated and deScribed the ypreferred means for transmitting the `motion ot' ythe boards 55, 55totheirrespec 4flexible portions at its ends secured to said board and lever respectively, the entire connection between lsaid member and said board and lever being completed through said flexible portions.

2. `In a player piano, va striking pneumatic having a hinged board, a hinged wooden actuating lever, and a wooden connecting spindle having-a leather ,pellet glued to each end thereof, said pellets being alsoglued to said board and lever respectively, a piano action having a wippen in vertical and transverse alignmentwith saidlever, and an adjustable contact member on said Wippen, said actuating lever having a rounded -to surface at its .end `for rolling contact wit said member.

In Witness whereof Ihereunto subscribe ,my name this 27 day ol July 1920. 

